Cable coupling

Abstract

Cable coupling assemblies are described which can be readily engaged and separated from one another. The couplings are particularly useful for use in torque transmitting cables such as those used in drain cleaning applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A drain cleaning cable coupling assembly comprising:
 a male coupling including a pair of engagement prongs, the engagement prongs spaced apart from one another and defining a docking region therebetween; 
 a female coupling having a circumferential wall defining a pair of receiving regions sized and shaped to fittingly engage the pair of engagement prongs of the male coupling, the female coupling also defining an outer end face, the circumferential wall defining a generally hollow interior chamber accessible via the end face and the pair of receiving regions; 
 a plunger movably disposed within the interior chamber of the female coupling, the plunger linearly displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position, the plunger including at least one radially extending ridge that extends around the circumference of the plunger. 
 
     
     
       2. The coupling assembly of  claim 1  wherein upon engagement between the male coupling and the female coupling, the pair of engagement prongs of the male coupling are disposed in the pair of receiving regions of the female coupling. 
     
     
       3. The coupling assembly of  claim 2  wherein upon engagement of the male coupling and the female coupling, the plunger can be displaced to the extended position at which at least a portion of the plunger is disposed in the docking region defined between the pair of engagement prongs of the male coupling. 
     
     
       4. The coupling assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a biasing member to bias the plunger to the extended position. 
     
     
       5. A drain cleaning cable coupling assembly comprising:
 a male coupling including a pair of engagement prongs, the engagement prongs spaced apart from one another and defining a docking region therebetween; 
 a female coupling having a circumferential wall defining a pair of receiving regions sized and shaped to fittingly engage the pair of engagement prongs of the male coupling, the female coupling also defining an outer end face, the circumferential wall defining a generally hollow interior chamber accessible via the end face and the pair of receiving regions; 
 a plunger movably disposed within the interior chamber of the female coupling, the plunger linearly displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position; 
 wherein the female coupling includes at least one projection extending into the interior chamber and the plunger includes at least one laterally extending ridge, the plunger and ridge sized and configured such that upon displacement of the plunger to the extended position, the projection contacts the ridge and thereby retains the plunger within the interior chamber. 
 
     
     
       6. The coupling assembly of  claim 5  wherein the plunger is cylindrical and includes an inner ridge proximate an inner end of the plunger and an outer ridge proximate an outer end of the plunger, and the at least one projection is disposed between the inner ridge and the outer ridge of the plunger. 
     
     
       7. The coupling assembly of  claim 6  wherein the at least one projection includes a first radially projecting pin disposed in the circumferential wall of the female coupling, and a second radially projecting pin disposed in the circumferential wall of the female coupling, both the first and the second pins disposed between the inner ridge and the outer ridge of the plunger. 
     
     
       8. A torque transmitting cable coupling assembly comprising:
 a male coupling including (i) a disc shaped head defining an outer face and an oppositely directed inner face, (ii) a centrally disposed and axially extending cable receiving section extending from the inner face of the head, and (iii) a pair of axially extending engagement prongs extending from the outer face of the head, the pair of engagement prongs spaced apart from each other to thereby define a docking region; 
 a female coupling including (i) a cylindrical body having an outer circumferential surface and defining an outer face and an oppositely directed inner face, the body further defining an interior chamber accessible from the outer face of the body, and (ii) a centrally disposed and axially extending cable receiving section extending from the inner face of the body, the body further defining a pair of receiving regions in the body, each receiving region extending between the outer circumferential surface and the interior chamber and each receiving region sized and shaped to fittingly engage a corresponding engagement prong of the male coupling; 
 a plunger movably disposed in the interior chamber defined in the body of the female coupling, the plunger axially positionable within the interior chamber between (i) a retracted position in which the pair of receiving regions defined in the body of the female coupling are unobstructed and (ii) an extended position in which at least a portion of the plunger obstructs the pair of receiving regions defined in the body of the female coupling assembly, the plunger including at least one radially extending ridge that extends around the circumference of the plunger. 
 
     
     
       9. The cable coupling assembly of  claim 8  wherein the interior chamber defined in the body of the female coupling extends from the outer face of the body of the female coupling to an interior end wall defined in the body of the female coupling; the cable coupling further comprising:
 a biasing member disposed at least partially within the interior chamber defined in the body of the female coupling, and between the plunger and the interior end wall in the body, wherein the biasing member urges the plunger toward the extended position in which at least a portion of the plunger obstructs the pair of receiving regions defined in the body of the female coupling. 
 
     
     
       10. A torque transmitting cable coupling assembly comprising:
 a male coupling including (i) a disc shaped head defining an outer face and an oppositely directed inner face, (ii) a centrally disposed and axially extending cable receiving section extending from the inner face of the head, and (iii) a pair of axially extending engagement prongs extending from the outer face of the head, the pair of engagement prongs spaced apart from each other to thereby define a docking region; 
 a female coupling including (i) a cylindrical body having an outer circumferential surface and defining an outer face and an oppositely directed inner face, the body further defining an interior chamber accessible from the outer face of the body, and (ii) a centrally disposed and axially extending cable receiving section extending from the inner face of the body, the body further defining a pair of receiving regions in the body, each receiving region extending between the outer circumferential surface and the interior chamber and each receiving region sized and shaped to fittingly engage a corresponding engagement prong of the male coupling; 
 a plunger movably disposed in the interior chamber defined in the body of the female coupling, the plunger axially positionable within the interior chamber between (i) a retracted position in which the pair of receiving regions defined in the body of the female coupling are unobstructed and (ii) an extended position in which at least a portion of the plunger obstructs the pair of receiving regions defined in the body of the female coupling assembly; 
 wherein the plunger includes at least one member extending laterally outward from an outer surface of the plunger, and the body of the female coupling includes a projection that extends into the interior chamber defined in the body of the female coupling, the projection located within the interior chamber such that the projection of the body and the member of the plunger contact each other upon positioning the plunger to the extended position. 
 
     
     
       11. The cable coupling assembly of  claim 10  wherein the at least one member extending laterally outward from an outer surface of the plunger includes a radially extending inner ridge disposed proximate an end of the plunger and a radially extending outer ridge spaced from the inner ridge and disposed proximate another end of the plunger, the projection of the body of the female coupling at least partially disposed between the inner ridge and the outer ridge. 
     
     
       12. The cable coupling assembly of  claim 11  wherein upon positioning the plunger to the retracted position, the projection contacts the outer ridge. 
     
     
       13. The cable coupling assembly of  claim 11  wherein upon positioning the plunger to the extended position, the projection contacts the inner ridge.